An alternative to Sanwoolu’s Okada ban: This would have been my Lagos transport policy to combat this hydra-headed monster

By Ayo Akinfe

(1) First and foremost, I would have staggered the ban, introducing new routes to it on a quarterly basis over the next two years. That way, people will be gradually moved into alternative employment

(2) Mobility technology companies like Gokada, ORide and Max.ng would be exempt from the ban. They pose no security risk whatsoever. If anything the states owes them as they have invested something like $100m into the Lagos economy

(3) I would immediately begin work on a massive Lagos Underground and Railway network. Okada drivers who have lost their livelihood will be given first option of working on the project. I am looking at one of the most ambitious urban metros ever, involving about 200 stations across some 400 square kilometres

(4) For every route where Okadas are banned, a BRT bus service route will be immediately introduced to replace it

(5) Over the long term, I will look to build three urban railway networks in Lagos - An underground network, a passenger light railway service and an overground train service. The latter will have its biggest terminal at Apapa from where it will ship freight to out of town cargo terminals

(6) All those companies that invested in the Okada business will have their investment refunded. They will also be given discretionary shares in Lagos Underground and Railway project. The idea is to make it clear that Lagos is investor friendly

(7) I would appoint someone like Babatunde Babatunde O. Gbadamosi to head the Lagos Underground and Railway Development Fund. His mandate will be to hound every investor worldwide to find the funding for the project. I do not want to hear any excuses. Everyone, including George Soros, Richard Branson, Bill Gates, Alan Sugar, Mark Zuckerberg, Jack Ma, Ma Huateng, etc must be contacted. Even if it costs $100bn, we must find the capital

(8) I would also expand the existing Lagos Uber boat taxi service. Okada riders who have lost their jobs will be retrained as boat drivers and maintenance crew

(9) I would open an official register of all Okada riders, taking their biometric data, fingerprints and pictures. This will make it easy to track anyone who commits a crime

(10) I would woo a motorcycle manufacturer like Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki or Triumph to open a mega plant in Lagos. In a bid to combat motorcycle crime, our contract will include a clause compelling them to churn out machines that can be disabled remotely. We will then pass laws that empower the police to disable any motorcycle state-wide. We would gradually ask other states to join us and make it a national programme